Peculiar Object near X2+5

HAWKINS et al.¹ have determined that the X-ray source GX2+5 lies within an error circle of diameter 2 arc min in a region of heavy obscuration. On May 26, 1973, I. S. G. scanned an area of 4×4 arc min centred on their best position using an infrared photometer attached to the 74-inch Radcliffe reflector. A bright object was found close to the centre of the error box, having the infrared magnitudes J (1.25 µm)=10.39+/-0.08, H (1.65 µm)=8.85+/-0.10 and K (2.2 µm) =8.10+/-0.05. It was not visible in the finder eyepiece of the photometer but its position was estimated to be about 25 arc s north-east of the visible star A in Fig. 1 (taken from a Palomar Sky Atlas red print). The object is identified with star B which may just be visible on the companion blue plate. A recent blue photograph taken by B. L. Webster (on the 74-inch) shows no change in the region.